The facade of foreign passports: when betrayal masquerades as opposition

Saturday 08 March 2025 - 16:00

By: Dakir Madiha

The facade of foreign passports: when betrayal masquerades as opposition

In recent times, an intriguing phenomenon has emerged: individuals who were once politically disengaged and anonymous suddenly transform into passionate "opponents" upon acquiring a foreign passport or stepping foot in a country of asylum. These are people who had never participated in political activism or voiced their opinions in Morocco, only to become self-proclaimed champions of freedom, venting their grievances from the safety of their screens.

These so-called opponents are not genuine activists or defenders of human rights who have faced real persecution. Often, they are individuals seeking recognition, frustrated by personal failures, and find it easier to criticize Morocco as a means of gaining media attention.

Just yesterday, they lived without incident in Morocco, never having visited a police station or held a protest sign. Yet abroad, they adopt a victim narrative, blaming Morocco for their misfortunes, as if their personal situation were the result of a state conspiracy.

Their anger does not stem from deep political convictions or ideological battles; instead, it is fueled by personal grievances: a job they did not secure, an opportunity lost, or social frustrations they refuse to confront. Rather than introspect, they prefer to accuse their homeland and present themselves as hunted dissidents, even though their existence is largely ignored.

Names like Hicham Gerando, the self-proclaimed scam artist, Zakaria Moumni, the "master blackmailer," and the separatist Mohamed Radi Ellili have surfaced on social media as new faces of the opposition. Yet, these individuals have had no real influence in Morocco's political landscape. Once mere participants in their local communities, they now position themselves as essential figures in activism, distorting reality and amplifying criticism to capture the attention of an audience eager for hostile narratives against Morocco.

Far from being true advocates, these opportunists seek a platform to voice their frustrations. For them, a foreign passport symbolizes legitimacy, a sort of pass that grants them the supposed right to insult their own country without consequence.

History will remember that Morocco has seen genuine opponents—men and women who stood by their convictions, endured personal sacrifices, and defended causes with sincerity. Unlike today's impostors, these historical figures never required a comfortable exile to express their beliefs.

A true activist courageously defends their ideas from within their homeland, often at great personal risk. In contrast, the opportunist only discovers their "oppression" once settled abroad, drink in hand, proudly flaunting their foreign passport as if it were a badge of legitimacy to betray their homeland.

Morocco continues to move forward, with or without these individuals. Constructive criticism and democratic debate are vital, but blind hatred and opportunistic betrayal are not.